The diction, or choice of words used by the author in this story, is highly related to the Irish context of the book. That is to say, there is a lot of Irish vernacular employed by the author. Examples of this can include phrases, like those in Polly’s song at the start of the book.
“I am a naughty girl,
You needn’t sham
You know who I am”
As seen in the example above, one can immediately deduce that the word “sham” is not exactly an official English word. Alongside the Irish vernacular existing in the story, there are also numerous references to the Irish way of life as a whole. Places like “George’s Church”, or “catch the short twelve at Marlborough Street”. In general, the effect of these numerous references to Irish culture and Irish way of life in the story shows us, as the readers, what life was like in Ireland, during the early 1900’s. This, subsequently, gives the readers of this story a better understanding of it as a whole, because the language and references used here paint a vivid context of early 20th-century Dublin.
Diction
The diction, or choice of words used by the author in this story, is highly related to the Irish context of the book. That is to say, there is a lot of Irish vernacular employed by the author. Examples of this can include phrases, like those in Polly’s song at the start of the book.
“I am a naughty girl,
You needn’t sham
You know who I am”
As seen in the example above, one can immediately deduce that the word “sham” is not exactly an official English word. Alongside the Irish vernacular existing in the story, there are also numerous references to the Irish way of life as a whole. Places like “George’s Church”, or “catch the short twelve at Marlborough Street”. In general, the effect of these numerous references to Irish culture and Irish way of life in the story shows us, as the readers, what life was like in Ireland, during the early 1900’s. This, subsequently, gives the readers of this story a better understanding of it as a whole, because the language and references used here paint a vivid context of early 20th-century Dublin.
For further information about James Joyce's diction, click on the link below:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/reading/activity/3518.html